Chapter 1

"Edward, I have to go. Charlie really wants to go on this retreat and it's a graduation present." Bella tried to tug on his hand teasingly, but he remained resolute. "It'll be fine."

Edward stared stonily at her as she tried to persuade him.

"I don't like it."

"I know you don't like it," she laughed, "but there are some things I'm going to do that you won't like and this will just have to be one of them."

"I won't let you go alone." His mouth flattened and she could see how crazy it was making him, just thinking about it.

"I won't be alone." Sliding onto his lap, she snuggled into his unforgiving body. Today it was unforgiving in more ways than one. "Charlie will be there. He knows how to use a gun."

Edward snorted and leaned forward to inhale her hair, then pressing a kiss on the crown of her head. "Forgive me if I'm not reassured by the presence of fire arms with your track record. And I'm not only worried about things that can be stopped with a gun."

Bella rolled her eyes against his chest, her voice muffled. "You'll just have to trust me, I'm going to be okay and it'll be great. You have to trust me."

She knew he would have simply followed her there in an instant, but there had been an incident with a rogue vampire in northern California. And even though it was well outside Cullen family "territory," Carlisle wanted to check it out. And Edward had promised Esme he would go to have everyone's back. She and Rosalie were staying behind to hold down the fort.

And she knew that Edward would never have made that promise if he had thought he couldn't convince Bella to stay too. Alice had known though. She held back a grin. Alice ALWAYS knew. And everything would be fine—Alice had already looked ahead.

"Bella." Edward pulled back so he could look into her eyes. "I do trust you. More than my own life. But I also know that there are a million—a hundred million things that could harm you." The urgency and desperation—the fear in his voice sent chills through her. "And when I think of each and every one of those things happening to you, it's like my world stops spinning and falls away. I can't lose you." His arms tightened around her automatically. And you would be helpless." He was truly desperate now. "If you only knew how fragile your life was. . ."

She put one hand on each side of his face and looked him squarely in the eyes. His nearly black eyes were racing across the planes of her face. Darting, desperate. She sighed mentally. If he would change her now, this wouldn't be a problem ….

"What? What are you thinking?" He asked softly.

"Nothing," Bella murmured, knowing it would just increase their fight for the day. "Just how much I love you and how I won't let anything stop me from coming home to you." She kissed him then, pressing her lips to his an reveling in his gentle, gliding mouth. The shivers erupted in the lower pit of her stomach and she pressed against him.

Hearing a car horn blare, she pulled away reluctantly. Charlie was ready to go. She was surprised at how much time he'd given her.

"Home," he whispered with a miraculous expression. She thought it was happy.

"You are my home," she traced down the side of his face and then jumped off of his lap, nearly running into the kitchen table in the process.

"I'm fine," she warned him as he opened his mouth.

He seemed to give in finally and picked up her duffel bag and she grabbed her coat, slipping it on.

He walked her out to Charlie waiting in the car. He set the bag in the back and opened the door for her. He closed it gently and she rolled down the window.

"Good-bye, I'll call you."

Edward looked like he wanted to say more, but then his eyes shifted to Charlie.

"Don't take any risks," he cautioned, still anxious.

"It'll be fun," Bella turned her smile on him and he backed away reluctantly.

"We'll be fine, son," Charlie assured him with an impatient sigh.

Bella rolled up the window, watching Edward's concerned featured blurring as they pulled away.

Charlie scoffed and turned on the radio. "That boy worries too much if you ask me. After all, what can happen in Canada?"

A/N: Hey, thanks for stopping by, hope you liked the chapter, there will be more to come. Reviews are highly encouraged, they definitely motivate me in lots of good ways, so feel free to leave a comment telling me what you thought! Thanks for reading!

R